Malacañang has announced the government's intention to lift the mandatory wearing of face masks outdoors towards the latter part of 2022.

Press Secretary Trixie Cruz-Angeles announced in a press briefing on Wednesday, Sept. 7, that the interagency task force for the management of emerging infectious diseases (IATF-EID) has recommended making the wearing of face masks optional in outdoor spaces where good ventilation is guaranteed across the country.

This will only be applicable to low-risk individuals in low-risk areas, Angeles said. Senior citizens and immunocompromised individuals are, however, "highly-encouraged to continue wearing masks."

"The IATF recommendation to liberalize mask wearing mandate and make mask wearing voluntary across the country will be optional in open spaces or non-crowded outdoors areas with good ventilation, provided that senior citizens and those immunocompromised individuals are highly encouraged to continue wearing masks," Angeles, who is still in Singapore, said.

'Not yet a policy'

The Press Secretary clarified that the pandemic task force's proposal to make wearing of face masks optional outdoors is not yet a policy but still a recommendation subject to President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr.'s approval.

"This is a recommendation by the IATF to liberalize mask wearing mandate— yung (the) compulsory mask wearing dito sa Pilipinas (in the Philippines). Hindi pa po ito polisya ngunit ito na po ang nirerekomenda ng IATF (This is not yet a policy but this is being recommended by the IATF)," Angeles said.

A pilot testing of the proposal, if approved by the President, will happen "towards the last quarter of 2022."

Among the considerations on the implementation of the pilot testing will also depend on the improvement of the country's booster shot vaccination rate, Angeles said.

'Verbal approval'

While the President has yet to make an official approval on the proposal signed by the IATF on Sept. 5, Marcos has actually given a "verbal approval" on the proposed policy, Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said.

According to Angeles, the President is "optimistic" about the proposal while trying to balance the country's economic and public health interests.

"Ang balacing natin dito (Our balancing act here) is the economy and public health. Let's give the President some time to consider these two interests and we will articulate this policy as soon as an approval, or disapproval, or modification of the proposed policy comes out," Angeles said.

With this development, the Palace moves to intensify its call to the public to get booster shots.

It also urged all government agencies to support the national booster week from Sept 26 to 29.